Autopsy: Aggie Killed By Train was Drunk

A toxicology report for 19-year-old Garrett Luce shows that he had been heavily drinking when he was struck and killed by a train on Sunday, Nov. 4.

Travis County Medical Examiners found Luce’s Blood Alcohol Content was 0.23 at the time of the accident, nearly three times the legal limit. Medical examiners say Luce died as a result of blunt force injuries.

“The average person, going out to Northgate for the first time for a long time...that’s pass out drunk for a lot of people,” said Dr. Boone Barrow, Scott & White Hospital.College Station Police are investigating the pedestrian-train fatality that happened at approximately 3 a.m. that Sunday.

Responding officers found 19-year-old Garrett Luce deceased on the scene. Luce was a 19-year-old College Station resident and a sophomore at Texas A&M University. He was a pledge at the Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Union Pacific Railroads Spokesperson, Raquel Espinoza, said the train engineer saw something on the track from about a quarter of a mile away

“The engineer sounded the whistle as soon as he realized it was a person on the tracks. The engineer put the train into emergency in an effort to stop the train, but the train was not able to stop before impact,” said Espinoza in a phone interview with News 3.

Investigators say Luce was alone at the time of the accident.

“He was laying on the track. The train whistle was sounded two different times before the accident. He was not wearing ear phones and should have been able to hear the train whistle both times. We just don't know why he didn't respond to those warnings,” said Espinoza.

News 3 asked the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission if they are looking into where the 19-year-old was drinking that night. They say College Station Police are leading up the investigation, and they'll provide assistance if police ask.

Texas A&M Greek Life Representatives say they are not investigating the accident, because there were no official fraternity activities that night.

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